The Oz Brigade ( 89th Brigade), also known as Commando Brigade, is an infantry formation for special operations of the Israeli Ground Forces. The brigade brings together four commando units – the Egoz Unit, the Maglan, the Duvdevan Unit and the Operational Support Unit.[Gabi Siboni and Gal Perl Finkel, The IDF Exercises in Cyprus and Crete, INSS Insight No. 945, June 28, 2017.] It was established in December 2015.
Ideation and development
According to the IDF, the Commando Brigade is the brainchild of Lieutenant General
Gadi Eisenkot and is the implementation of operational lessons learned during Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014 and the Second Lebanon War in 2006. According to the 98th Division Commander, the brigade is an integration of the elite teams of the Infantry Corps under one command, and a body expected to lead operational and tactical thinking in order to establish a new warfare doctrine.
The new Brigade is intended to provide special operations units a previously lacking centre of gravity.
The concept of a commando brigade was developed by IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot during the formulation of the 5-years military plan. The new brigade is said to draw further parallels between Israel's special forces and the American 75th Ranger Regiment.
Other special-operations units, Sayeret Matkal, Shayetet 13, Shaldag Unit, Oketz Unit and Yahalom continue to operate independently.
Brigade organization
The 89th Brigade consists of three (formerly four) commando units of the IDF.
The brigade had a fourth battalion, the now defunct Unit 845, or "
Rimon", desert warfare unit, which was absorbed into Maglan in June 2018.
[ יחידת "רימון" נסגרת ומוטמעת ב"מגלן". תיעוד מסכם מ-8 שנות פעילות מבצעית, Israel Defense Forces website, February 07, 2018 (in Hebrew)] It also has an elite transport unit tasked with transporting special operations soldiers to and from battlefields in a variety of conditions,
[ This secret unit changes everything we thought about IDF drivers] assorted support units, and a commando training school. As of 2025, the brigade consists of:
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89th Commando Brigade Oz/Courage
Commanders
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Brigadier General David Zini (2015–2017)
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Brigadier General Avi Blot (2017–2018)
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Colonel Kobi Heller (2018 –2021)
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Brigadier General Meni Liberty (2021–2023)
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Colonel Omer Cohen (2023-present)
Insignia
The insignia chosen for the new brigade depicts the Hebrew letter Quf (ק), the first letter in the Hebrew word for Commando (קומנדו), composed of a commando knife rising from the sea and a double headed arrow above it. It symbolizes the special designation of the brigade and its mobility, by air, land or sea.
See also
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Special forces of Israel
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Mista'arvim
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Yiftach Brigade - functions as the reserve commando brigade in the IDF
